My AGTA Spectrum Award Entry 2016

The American Gem Trade Association holds an annual
competition to promote colored gemstones in fine jewelry. Every year a
different panel of judges picks winners for the various categories. I’ve written about some of my past
entries on this blog, including my Tourmaline earrings that received a Platinum Honors Award in 2015. There was a subsequent competition this past July which will be the
new annual date going forward. No, I did not win this year, but I really love
how they turned out.

I acquired two beautiful natural colored silver baroque south sea pearls
several years ago. I knew that I wanted to design a pair of earrings with
sapphires. The Spectrum competition is always good motivation to create a new
piece.

A quick pencil sketch was all I needed to get started. Constructing the models in silver: The earrings
consist of a top shield shape with four single cut diamonds. Three
graduated sections are attached with pins to allow movement. Flipped to
make a right and left earring, I added platinum bezels for the
sapphires.

The organic shape of the pearls inspired a soft look. I felt
that platinum would enhance the sapphires and the silvery blue color of the
pearls and that the earrings needed to be long with subtle movement. To me, the
earrings reference the long curvy silhouette of Art Nouveau.